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Harris: Other Basic Rights Now at Risk After Roe V. Wade Overturned; Supreme Court Overturns Roe V. Wade; DC Police Ramp Up Staffing After Roe V. Wade Overturned. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired June 24, 2022 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00]

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To stand for liberty. To stand for freedom. To stand for self-determination and for the right to privacy. You have the power to elect leaders who will defend and protect your rights. And as the president said earlier today, with your vote, you can act, and you have the final word. So, this is not over. God bless you and God bless America.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: OK. We were listening to Vice President Kamala Harris they are talking about her -- getting her first reaction to Roe v. Wade being overturned. She was in Plainfield, Illinois, there talking about it.

Let's go to Kaitlan Collins right now, our chief White House correspondent, and Malika Henderson back with us. Kaitlan, obviously, the White House had been bracing for this moment. Tell us the significance of the Vice President's words.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And ever since that draft opinion leaked, the Vice President a has been one of the most outspoken members of the administration on this issue. She's also had a lot of private meetings with stake holders, attorneys general as well talking about what this is going to look like if that draft became a reality. As we obviously all know, it did today.

And so, these are her first comments since the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade came down, and really her argument there was in two parts. Basically, saying this is not the only right that she believes is threatened. She talked about access to birth control, same-sex marriage, all of those things that she believes are now potentially at risk based on what was written in this opinion from the court today.

Obviously, you saw what Justice Clarence Thomas said in his as well about reconsidering other decisions. And that's been a primary concern for the White House is that this is not the end of the road when it comes to major decisions by this Supreme Court. And she also talked about fact that when it comes to a view of the United States, she said we always push forward instead of going backwards. And obviously, she was making the argument there that today was a big step backwards.

And so, a big question for the White House has been, what steps are they going to take next? Because they have a limited amount of steps. Obviously, they cannot restore the constitutional right that was granted to women by the Supreme Court ruling beforehand, but they will be taking other steps when it comes to the Justice Department, health and human services as well -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, and Malika, what did you hear there?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: This is not over. I mean, those were her closing words there. I think Democrats are really going to try to make this into a rallying cry for their voters going into the midterms and make an argument that Republicans want to restrict rights around abortion, women's rights, LBGTQ rights as well. Voting rights, and it's up to the voters, Democratic voters to elect Democrats. It'll be harder, I think, for Democrats to do this because they're not a party that's sort of hard wired in the way that the Republican Party is around abortion rights.

This is a new chapter, I think, for both parties in many ways, right. Republicans they have fought for decades for this day to come. Now, this is the day where they have finally had a Supreme Court that overturned the federal right to abortion, and now Democrats really have to figure out what they want to do to try to push the ball forward and ensure that women will have equal access to abortion across the country.

CAMEROTA: OK. Kaitlan Collins, Nia-Malika Henderson, thank you very much.

OK, we want to go back now to prolife advocate, Jeanne Mancini. She's the president of March for Life. Jeanne, sorry about that. When we cut away to the Vice President, we were talking about basically the mother's health. And I'm just wondering, you know, there are obviously so many women who have had to get abortions because they -- there are grave complications with their pregnancy, either for their own health or the fetus's health, and I'm wondering today if you have any concerns about that scenario.

JEANNE MANCINI, PRESIDENT, MARCH FOR LIFE: Oh, please be assured that my every concern is for the mom and the babies. We believe there's two patients. But let's just look at Guttmacher Institute, which of course, was originally the research arm of Planned Parenthood, and they would say that of the amount of abortions which are occurring, which since Roe is over 63 million, there's only 2 percent of them that are happening on mothers that have health issues. So, I think that while that absolutely is something to take into consideration, it's not the large majority of what's happening here. So --

CAMEROTA: What about them? For them, when it is outlawed, certainly, in these states that have trigger laws that today now are banning abortion, what about that?

[15:35:00]

MANCINI: Well, let's -- gosh, there's just so much, Alisyn, but let's really be clear because I think that there's a lot of fear mongering that's going on, and especially media, your roll is to be neutral in reporting, so abortion has not been outlawed, abortion has been returned to the people today. CAMEROTA: Sure, but I'm saying that those states that have trigger

laws. In half the states now, they've been waiting for this decision because they will be outlawed in those states.

MANCINI: The people have voted in those states to have life protective laws. So yes, in most of those scenarios, there is an exception for the health of the mother if there is an extreme scenario.

CAMEROTA: There used to be, Jeanne. Hold on a second, Jeanne. There are some states now that are outlawing, that are doing away with that. They don't want any exception for the health of the mother. There are -- I mean, I think, I'm just looking through here, I think it was Missouri, maybe Oklahoma, they are trying to do away with that exception. Then what?

MANCINI: So, Alisyn, I think that you and I, we fundamentally disagree that there are two people when a woman is pregnant, and that both patients should be treated. That is my approach and the approach of the March for Life.

CAMEROTA: I'm not saying I disagree with that. I'm saying what about the mom. What about the mom's health? What about when she has to because of grave complications or grave complications with the fetus, then what?

MANCINI: So, there are certain scenarios where that would be the decision. So, for example, when a woman is facing an ectopic pregnancy, then that's absolutely a scenario where you could remove the fallopian tube and that will abort the baby. So, what we're not talking about here is the 2 percent of the 63 million abortions that have occurred in the United States. I think, I just --

CAMEROTA: But why not? I mean, I guess I just don't ever hear people saying --is what you want to talk about.

MANCINI: That is what you want to talk about.

CAMEROTA: Well because I don't ever get an answer. What's the answer? What happens when that exception is gone? There are lots of people who are concerned about not only women having unsafe, now illegal abortions, that's one category, but the women who desperately wanted to have a child and had to have an abortion because of grave complications.

In fact, we're going to be speaking to Congresswoman Jackie Spear coming up. That was her situation. She's talked about it publicly. She wanted to have a child, there were complications, she had to have an abortion. There were so many women I interviewed in that category, and I just don't -- I'm not getting an answer for what we're going to do in those states that are now outlawing that?

MANCINI: OK, I think I have given you an answer, but I don't think you're getting the answer that you want.

CAMEROTA: What is it? MANCINI: The answer is that in some scenarios that is allowed, and I'm

not aware right now of any states that have outlawed in extreme health situations, this 2 percent we're talking about here according to the Guttmacher Institute.

What I would want to mention is that I personally have a number of people close to me who have suffered tremendously because of abortion. I've also spoken to a dad whose daughter died as a result of legal abortion, so those are some other stories that aren't necessarily being told.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I hear you. I hear you. I mean, there are always anecdotes that everybody has that obviously prove their point. I understand that, you know, I understand the situation on both sides, and why it gets so emotional, but I know that this is a victory for you. Jeanne, thank you for your patience. We appreciate you being on. Thanks for your time.

This was a highly anticipated ruling over a very divisive issue. Now security is key, both at the court and for justices.

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CAMEROTA: The protests that we're seeing outside of the Supreme Court are peaceful and the president and the Attorney General are asking the public to make sure they stay that way. Nevertheless, the D.C. Metropolitan Police have activated their entire department in preparation for more protests this weekend.

There have been small demonstrations outside the homes of some of the justices after that draft decision was leaked. Now, earlier this month, an armed man was arrested near Justice Kavanaugh's home and charged with attempted murder.

CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem is here. She's a former homeland security official. So, Juliette, let's start with that. Let's start with the justices' safety. How do you keep the justices and their families safe right now?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, this is -- I mean this is something that's been already addressed in terms of increased protection for them. They have essentially secret service details, not exactly the same, and their security is not often exposed but it is to protect their person, as well as their spouses and their children. I should admit the rest of the judiciary, I'm married to a judge. The rest of the judiciary is protect bid marshals if anything like this came up.

But the Supreme Court is different. And we already know that there are people that have been targeting specific justices. So that's sort of one lane that we're worried about, and solely within the federal lane. In other words, the federal government is protecting the Supreme Court. The other lane, of course, that we're worried about is the protest

that you, you know, you talked about with D.C. activating. I would say almost every police chief I talked to in the last three months was waiting for this. So, that's good in the sense that they've gone with their police departments over what standard operating procedure, rules of engagement, separate different groups that are peacefully protesting.

[15:45:00]

But you know, the temperature is high, and emotions are very high. And so, we need to ensure that people can express their viewpoints, but not turn to violence.

CAMEROTA: I mean, Juliette, it's also just such a sign of the times that when I see a big crowd like this, it doesn't just say to me peaceful protest. It says soft target. I mean, we've just all lived through, you know, these mass shootings. And so, as a law enforcement official, do you -- I mean, how do you protect all of the people there that we see on the other side of the screen?

KAYYEM: Well, you can't. I mean, I'm always realistic with you. You can't. What you're trying to do is have a political apparatus that is saying everyone keep the temperature down. We're trying to give opportunities for people to peacefully protest so that they don't turn to something else. In other words, if you silence them or if you say that they can't actually peacefully protest, especially people who have lost a right or the perception of a right are exceptionally frustrated, they need outlets. And I think it's important that we give it to them.

But I want to also be clear. I don't want to end the segment without saying this. My concern, and I think the concern of almost everyone I've talked to in this space, on the operational space, forget the law, forget the politics, forget your individual viewpoint is the biggest concern is that as your previous speaker said, access to reproductive health and abortions is still available in the United States even though the right was denied.

So, if you're worried about where things may be inflamed, it's going to be where abortions are still available but it's highly contention, so a purple state, a red state that hasn't opposed them or where it's about to be turned off in four, five, six states. If you ask me what I most worried about (INAUDIBLE) the end of the right as the court said today, but the ability to still access abortions converge. And I think -- and we've seen that in the past. We also have to be cognizant of that. But it's not just, you know, people in the political space. There's people still accessing reproductive rights, and they have to be productive given the history of targeting abortion clinics and targeting abortion doctors.

OK, Juliette Kayyem, thank you very much for the thoughts and those warnings.

So, President Biden says the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade is not the final word. More on what that means, ahead. [15:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Legendary tennis player, Arthur Ashe made history as a black athlete, excelling in a predominantly white sport, and he changed the way the world looked at social issues from civil rights to HIV and AIDS. Well now the new CNN film "Citizen Ashe" takes a fresh look at the impact Ashe had both on and off the court. Here's a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had evolved from someone who was analytic to someone who became more and more about direct action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you get to South Africa feeling you could change things just by playing tennis?

ARTHUR ASHE, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: I am not presumptuous enough to think I can change anything, per se.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wanted black South Africans to see a free black man. And the possibilities that a free black man could live.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Joining us now is Francis Tiafoe. He's a top ranked U.S. tennis player and an outspoken advocate for social justice. Francis, great to see you. So, as a black athlete in the predominantly white sport of tennis, I'm guessing you can relate to Arthur Ashe. So, has been a role model to you in terms of how you approach the sport and all the advocacy work you do?

FRANCIS TIAFOE, AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: No doubt, no doubt. He's definitely been a huge inspiration to me since the start of my journey, honestly. What he was able to do was very special. Obviously, being pioneers of the sport, being one of the, you know, best ever to do it as a black man. Obviously very special, and you know, what he -- with his status and what he was able to do on the social justice piece and obviously, you know, speaking out on HIV and AIDS, it was also crazy, and it's helped me today, you know, with my platform, social media and everything, to pave the way to my advocacy stuff. So, I can only thank him.

BLACKWELL: Let me ask you about your social media work there. You won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2020 for your campaign, Rackets Down, Hands Up United, some of the biggest names in tennis. Black players in the community to raise awareness about police violence. Talk more about the responsibility you feel. Because we know that Arthur Ashe felt that as well, to speak out on issues like this one.

TIAFOE: 100 percent right, and especially at that moment, you know, I thought there's no better time than now. Amidst the pandemic and obviously, you know, George Floyd, it was -- everything was super-hot. And you know, I thought it was definitely my responsibility regarding -- and create video or do something towards the cause. And it was unbelievable the video I was able to create, you know, some of the names I was able to have be a part of that. So, my girlfriend and I were able to do it. It was really special.

CAMEROTA: And Francis, do you think the country has made progress in the past couple years?

TIAFOE: No doubt, no doubt. I think black-owned a lot of companies, restaurants, things like that are being helped, I think. We have a lot, for example, in D.C., I think we have a lot of black-owned restaurants, different kind of, you know, companies. I think a lot of people of color are getting, you know, change in higher up jobs, whether it be general managers, CEOs, and big corporations, 500 fortune companies. And you're seeing a lot of progress, a lot of representation for the newcomers in low-income areas. So, we are seeing it but it's a long road. Rome wasn't built in a day, so it's a day what it's also looking well.

BLACKWELL: Francis, where do you see tennis headed on the issues of diversity and inclusion?

TIAFOE: I mean, I think they did an unbelievable job, 2020 U.S. Open. You know, a lot of Black Lives Matter banners. Letting the players really speak out. You know, wear certain clothing that spoke out on built the cause, both in the WNBA and NBA at that time. Obviously, what Naomi did, stopping in the tournament had a great message.

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You know, since then, I think it's been at a pause. As it pertains to tournaments outside the U.S., and I think if we're going to get real change. It's not just only U.S. Open, it's on every soil. So again, it's a day-by-day process, but I think it has been more.

CAMEROTA: Well, Francis Tiafoe, great to talk to you. Thanks so much for joining us. And be sure to tune in, the all-new CNN film, "Citizen Ashe," premieres Sunday at 9:00 p.m. right here on CNN.

And we leave you with what's going on outside of the Supreme Court right now. These are protesters who are responding to the decision on Roe v. Wade. Jake Tapper continues our coverage right after this.

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